Kim Kriese is understandably excited. Just 25 years old, the former college soccer star has been given the keys to Lakeland’s women’s soccer program.

“I’m a little nervous, but I’m confident in my knowledge of the game and how to pass that knowledge along,” she says. “I know I’ll make a few mistakes along the way, but I’m really, really excited.”

She knows recruiting is the lifeblood of any successful program, and establishing strong relationships is the key to great recruiting. One of her core recruiting philosophies is focusing on Sheboygan County student-athletes.

“I want to build the program around local talent,” she says. “You look around this county, and there’s talent all over the place. I want Sheboygan-area kids. I want their parents and grandparents to be able to watch them play right here at Lakeland College.”

Kim is a pioneer, blazing a new trail for Lakeland soccer. The women’s soccer program had a part-time head coach for its first three year, but this marks the first time in the program’s 21-year history that it has its own full-time head coach. For the past two years, Adam Galla ran both the men’s and women’s programs. He will now focus exclusively on the men’s program while Kim takes over the women’s on a full-time basis.

Kim came to Lakeland as a graduate assistant in 2011 after a sensational playing career at Marian University in Fond du Lac. She left Marian after setting school records for matches started (75), goals scored (66) and game-winning goals (18), among other marks. After her senior year, she was named conference Offensive Player of the Year.

She credits Galla for “teaching me the ropes” and mentoring her to the point where she’s ready to run a program. After her two years as a graduate assistant, Kim served last season as a full-time assistant coach.

Lakeland's women's soccer team opens its 2014 season on Aug. 29 at home against Ripon College.

It’s one thing to have a full-time job lined up when you graduate. It’s another thing altogether to have a position created for you a year before you earn that diploma.

Welcome to Kate Wallen’s world. The dynamic Lakeland College exercise science and sport studies major hasn’t even started her senior year, but the leadership at Generations community center in Plymouth, Wis., has seen enough to know she’s a perfect fit.

“Kate came in here as an intern in May, and she has done such a fantastic job we are creating a position for her,” says Fred Brown, exercise and activities coordinator at Generations.

“What she’s done here shines a very positive light on Lakeland College. She is so well-prepared and understands the complexities of putting together a variety of exercise plans for a variety of people with different needs. Getting people in the door to participate once is one thing. It’s a lot harder to get them coming back. Kate has increased our numbers with her programming and enthusiasm. They say, ‘Hey, this is beneficial, but it’s also fun.’”

Generations is a non-profit community center dedicated to the health and wellness of Plymouth-area citizens. It strives to bring people of all ages together for a variety of energizing, cutting-edge activities. Brown says the center has members between the ages of 4 and 104.

Kate, a native of Mundelein, Ill., enjoys all of them.

“I love working with people, so this is perfect,” she says. “I really enjoy what I’m doing and want to help out here as much as possible. Honestly, they’re willing to pay me to do something I’d volunteer to do.”

Kate has always been crazy about sports. She was a basketball and softball standout in high school, and after choosing Lakeland to play softball, she was named the program’s hardest worker in 2013. But, after that season, she stepped away from the sport to focus on her academics and career path.

Now she’s planning, creating and leading everything from tee-ball leagues for youngsters to cardio programs for members of all ages to arthritis prevention and management classes for older members.

Kate says she has learned a lot in Lakeland’s exercise science and sport studies program, and she enjoys her life as a Lakeland College Muskie.

“I am outdoorsy, so I love this area,” she says. “And I especially love that Lakeland is so family oriented. Everyone says ‘Hi’ to everyone.”

Her friendly personality, enthusiasm for exercise and innovative programming have been a big hit at Generations, says Brown.

“We would love to have her here for the next 20 years, but I’m smart enough to know that’s probably not going to happen,” he adds with a smile.

“The smartest thing I can do now is just get out of her way and let her shine.”

Ben Manske enjoys all facets of his ongoing internship at world-famous Road America, but race weekends are when his adrenaline flows fastest.

“There’s so much energy out here,” he says. “I really enjoy the controlled chaos.”

Ben, a Neenah, Wis., native who graduated from Lakeland this past May with a degree in business management and a minor in sports management, has been a hit at picturesque RA in Elkhart Lake.

“Ben has worked out just great,” says Mary Lou Haen, RA’s marketing & promotions director. “This is the first time we’ve had an intern, and he’s been outstanding. He’s very versatile, which is good because we’ve introduced him to many opportunities in different areas. He’s done work in customer service, marketing, sponsor relations and even hands-on events like helping with ticket sales and autograph sessions.”

“He was thrown into the fire immediately, and he responded. I’d certainly like to make sure we get another intern from Lakeland next year.”

Ben’s post-graduate internship began in May and he will likely work into September, when the track’s busy summer season winds down. After that, he’ll focus on launching a career in sales or marketing.

The relationship between Ben and Road America began when Haen spoke at Lakeland’s Sport Marketing and Promotions class last winter. After the class, Ben spoke with Haen and followed up via email until he was offered the internship.

“Basically, I kept bugging her,” jokes Ben, whose tenacity as a defensive back on the football field culminated in second-team all-conference honors after his senior season.

As he heads into the rest of his life, Ben looks back fondly on his Lakeland College experience.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” he says. “I got a chance to meet so many different people from many different states and backgrounds, and I made good friends with students and professors. It was really great.”

Seven recent Lakeland College graduates returned to campus on Monday to take part in freshman orientation. The grads - Tina Filipovic, Ryan Holm, Jackie Jirschele, Ben Koepsell, Ndamyo Mwanyonga, Brittni Peterson and Jared Petrie - mingled with parents of incoming students. The graduates answered questions and talked about their Lakeland experience, then dined with the new Lakeland families.

These young men and women are succeeding at companies and organizations such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Orion Energy Systems and Curt Joa. One of our guests, Ndamyo, is now training teachers in her her home country of Malawi, Africa.

It's just another example of how connected so many Lakeland alumni feel to their alma mater, and how willing they are to give back to the Lakeland community after they leave.

For 2014 Lakeland College grad Diana Torres, the end of an internship meant the beginning of a career.

On the last day of her five-month internship at Safe Harbor, a domestic abuse shelter in Sheboygan, Wis., Torres was asked if she'd like to stay – full time. She quickly answered yes.

"I feel like I am needed here," says Torres, Safe Harbor's new Hispanic community advocate. "Yes, there are times I want to go home and cry. It's not always easy hearing about and seeing the struggles. But, I can make a difference and that makes it worth it."

According to an email from Amanda Drossel, Safe Harbor's shelter services coordinator, Safe Harbor's mission is to "provide prevention, intervention, education and outreach services to empower individuals, families and the community to end all forms of domestic violence and sexual assault."

"If it wasn't for Diana, we would be struggling to reach out to our Spanish-speaking residents and the Spanish-speaking clients who call on the phone," Drossel continues. "We have definitely had a great experience with Diana."

Diana graduated from Sheboygan South High School in 2005 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan for a semester before leaving. Thinking higher education might not be for her, she worked for a few years before enrolling at Lakeland in 2010.

Driven to become an interpreter, Diana double majored in Spanish and criminal justice. Once a disinterested student, she changed her approach at Lakeland.

"I worked hard," she says. "I adopted a very different mindset. Seeing my name on the dean's list made me feel good, and I really liked Lakeland. The small class sizes and the close relationships with the professors were perfect for me."

Diana also blossomed out of the classroom, serving as president of the Spanish National Honor Society for two years, helping fellow students as a Spanish tutor and earning recognition as Lakeland's Spanish Student of the Year as a senior.

"Lakeland really helped me grow as a person," Diana says. "The school and the professors did a great job preparing me for my career path and my critical thinking skills were really developed while at Lakeland. I'll always be very grateful for everyone there who helped me reach my potential."

If you happen to check out Bastille Days in Milwaukee this weekend, head on over to the Bucks' display area. Chances are you'll find Lakeland College student Jake Maechtle making kids smile.

Jake is enjoying a summer internship with the Milwaukee Bucks, and since sports and people are two of his passions in life, it's no wonder he's having a blast.

"I love it," he says. "This is such a great opportunity for me to work with people, and I've always been a huge sports fanatic. I'd really love to continue with this and make a career out of it."

As a paid summer promotional intern with the Bucks, Jake goes to fairs and festivals around the state, setting up temporary baskets, encouraging fans to play interactive games and offering discounted Bucks tickets.

"I've been told to apply for the in-season internship, so I think they've been happy with me so far," says Jake, who will be a senior at Lakeland this fall. His major is business administration with emphases in sports management and economics.

This exciting internship opportunity came about through a mix of Jake's initiative and help from Lakeland Success and Engagement Coach Whitney Diedrich and 2010 Lakeland grad Tina Filipovic. Tina, an account service executive with the Bucks, got the ball rolling by putting in a good word. Then, Jake nailed a couple of phone interviews, and got the gig. One thing that helped prepare Jake for those phone interviews was a mock interview set up by Lakeland with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers minor league baseball team.

"Whitney helped me out a ton in so many ways," Jake says. "She helped me strengthen my resume, gave me a lot of great advice and encouraged me throughout the process. Whitney and (fellow Success and Engagement Coach) Kay Voss have been great."

Spend just a few minutes with Jake, and you'll find it hard to believe he arrived at Lakeland from his hometown of Port Washington, Wis., as an extremely introverted person.

Things changed his sophomore year, when Jake took Professor of Business Administration J. Garland Schilcutt's business protocol course. In this class, students are driven hard to communicate – privately and publicly.

"I was scared to death," Jake recalls. "One day, Professor Schilcutt pulled me aside and told me I needed to speak up more. But I was shy and very nervous. I was worried people would think I was stupid. Professor Schilcutt encouraged me and told me he was once the same way, but was able to overcome it and become successful in life. I really took that to heart and decided to get more involved."

Did he ever. First, he joined Lakeland's "call team," reaching out by phone to prospective students and alumni. Then, Jake became an admissions ambassador and, the following year, an orientation leader and captain of the wrestling team.

Jake has really come out of his shell over the past few years. He gives Lakeland's nurturing environment, caring professors and numerous opportunities to branch out and shine a lot of credit for that.

"Lakeland has been great for me," he says. "It's amazing how much I've grown as a person here."

Just halfway through last winter's four-month internship at Schenck SC in Sheboygan, the 2014 Lakeland College graduate had a job offer in hand.

"My goal was to have a fulltime position before I graduated," says Guell, who majored in accounting at Lakeland. "I'm really excited."

Guell will fill a brand new staff accountant position at Schenck's Port Washington office, where she'll work one-on-one with small business clients.

"I feel like I fit the bill, because I'm a social person, and I like to build relationships," she says.

Guell enrolled at Lakeland after earning her associate degree from UW-Sheboygan.

At Lakeland, she exceled in the classroom and played a lead role in Lakeland's highly regarded Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The VITA program features Lakeland students preparing free tax returns for the Sheboygan area's lower-income residents.

As her senior year approached, Guell honed in on internships, taking advantage of the many career development and networking opportunities offered at Lakeland. She met with a Schenck HR representative on campus, then got a phone interview and landed the internship that quickly led to full-time employment.

"I was a little nervous about the public accounting realm," she says. "But Schenck has been very welcoming, very helpful. They really make me feel like part of the team."

As she prepares to begin her fulltime accounting career, Guell looks back fondly on her Lakeland experience.

"The Lakeland business division became a family to me," she says. "All of the professors helped me grow and become a professional. I talk up Lakeland all the time. It's small enough that all of the professors know your name, know who you are as a person and what's going on in your life."

Everybody was talking about today's special lunch treat at Lakeland College. Thanks to Lakeland students Romaine Johnson and Demonta Hall, who came up with the idea and carried it out, Wednesday's "Creative Cuisine" entry featured the delictable combination of chicken and waffles. That's right: chicken and waffles!

This is just one example of Lakeland students taking ownership and showcasing initiative and leadership skills. When Johnson and Hall approached Mark Wagner, director of dining services, he was all for the idea. Johnson called home to get the family recipe, and the pair of students went to work. The result was succulant boneless fried chicken on a freshly made Belgian waffle that Johnson made by pouring batter onto a hot griddle. That interesting combo was topped with syrup and, for the really adventurous, hot sauce.

The meal was a hit! Students, staff and faculty complimented Johnson and Hall as the lunch hour wound down.

Wagner was ecstatic and proud of the students. "This is what it's all about," he said. "They did a wonderful job!"

When John Wormwood selected Lakeland College out of high school, a handful of friends in his hometown of Menominee, Mich., gave him a hard time.

"They razzed me about it, because they were going to big schools like Michigan and Michigan State," recalls Wormwood with a smile. "But for what I was interested in, business, I knew that the successful local companies like Kohler Co., ACUITY, Johnsonville and Sargento were going to provide a lot of opportunities."

Wormwood's instincts were right on the money. Shortly after graduating from Lakeland in May with a double major in business management and marketing and a minor in economics, he was hired as group sales coordinator at the prestigious American Club – a Kohler Co. property and Wisconsin's only AAA 5-diamond and Forbes Five-Star rated hotel.

When a group books a stay at the American Club, Wormwood helps hammer out details and make sure critical logistics – dining reservations, lodging, excursions, etc. – are in order.

"I am doing a lot of contract writing and sales outreach to groups," Wormwood says. "I work with the director of national accounts, so we're dealing with some pretty big contracts."

Wormwood credits Lakeland Student Success and Engagement Coach Kay Voss for helping him seize the Kohler Co. opportunity. He says Voss not only helped him sharpen his resume and LinkedIn profile, she also helped him hone his interview skills so he would exude just the right amount of confidence.

Now, as he launches into an exciting new career with this world-class company, Wormwood looks back proudly on his Lakeland experience.

"I loved it," he says. "Lakeland prepared me for a career, and I met so many awesome people from all over the world. It was a great experience."

Lakeland College grad Gary Weichmann '72 and his son, Joe, are on the front end of an incredible sailing journey that started in Sturgeon Bay at 6 a.m. on June 6 and will last at least a year-and-a-half.

The Weichmanns will sail their Catalina 445 through Canada and enter the Atlantic Ocean near New York. They'll hug the east coast of the U.S. before continuing on past the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, South America and Central America. If all goes according to plan, the father-son sailors will arrive at their final destination of Costa Rica sometime in late 2015.

"We are not on a fixed schedule or course," writes Gary in an email. "But we have windows we're trying to meet. I want to meet my mother on the Erie Canal, go to the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York City over Labor Day and stay in Charleston for a month."

The idea was hatched on a cold November day in Sturgeon Bay. Gary and his son had just winterized and covered the boat, and were talking while driving home to Neenah. Gary mentioned the possibility of the trip and Joe "was all in, immediately."

Joe, 28, crafted a letter of resignation to his employer. Gary, 64 and retired, began working on logistics.

"I then started a mental plan on how to tell my wife," Gary writes. Mindy, he explains, loves to sail, too, but she gets seasick and wouldn't be up for such a long, arduous journey.

So, it's just the boys.

"Every time someone asks Joe why he is doing this, he responds, 'To be with my dad,'" Gary writes. "I respond, 'To be with my son.'"

Gary points out that he will miss his wife, his daughter, his granddaughter, his dog and cat and playing tennis and golf with his friends. But he knows how special this time with his son will be.